Statement of principles: "The AFIS strives to promote science against those who deny its cultural value, abuse it for criminal purposes or as a cover for quackery." According to the AFIS, science itself cannot solve humanity's problems, nor can one solve them without using the scientific method. Citizens should be informed about scientific and technical advancements and the problems it helps to solve, in a way that is accessible to everyone, regardless of the pressure from particular interests. They should be warned against false sciences and against those who propagate them in the media for personal or financial gain. Via its magazine, Science et pseudo-sciences, the association states it wants:
to collect a number facts from current affairs in science and technology to consider them from a human perspective first;
to distribute scientific information about all disciplines of research via the news, in a language that everyone can understand;
to unconditionally denounce peddlers of false science or pseudoscience (astrology, flying saucers, sects, the "paranormal", fake medicine), malevolent charlatans and suppliers of irrationality;
to defend scientific thinking against the threat of a new obscurantism.
Independent of all pressure groups, it rejects any concession to sensationalism, disinformation and complacency regarding the irrational.[4]
Publication
AFIS publishes a quarterly magazine Science et pseudo-sciences ("Science and pseudosciences"). According to the association, the magazine had 1400–1500 subscribers and a readership of 1400–2800 per issue in 2010.[1] In 2010, the sale of the magazine delivered a revenue of €82,232 for production costs and €60,125 for postage costs.[5] Engineer and physicist Sebastien Point is a member of AFIS and of the magazine. He has also written for the English magazine Skeptical Inquirer about free energy and chromotherapy,[6] and about wrong beliefs surrounding electromagnetic radiations.[7][8]
Controversies
Astrology
When Élizabeth Teissier's dissertationSituation épistémologique de l'astrologie à travers l'ambivalence fascination/rejet dans les sociétés postmodernes ("Epistemological Situation of Astrology across the Ambivalence of Fascination/Rejection in Postmodern Societies") was accepted at the Paris Descartes University in April 2001, it caused an uproar within the scientific community. The AFIS took the initiative to critically analyse Teissier's thesis.[9] It turned out to be a plea for astrology, presented as a sociological study, and did not comply with any academic standards for a dissertation. The analysis was conducted by a group of astrophysicists and astronomers (Jean-Claude Pecker, Jean Audouze and Denis Savoie), sociologists (Bernard Lahire and Philippe Cibois), a philosopher (Jacques Bouveresse) and specialists of pseudosciences (Henri Broch and Jean-Paul Krivine).[10] Teissier rejected the criticism of the contents of her sociological dissertation, and branded the AFIS as the "Taliban of culture."[11]
GMOs
In 2007, AFIS started a petition against the moratorium of genetically modified maize in France.[12][13][14] It published numerous articles on GMOs.[15] It also lobbied in the Senate during the discussion of the law on GMOs in 2008.[16][17] In March 2008, this position of the association led a member of AFIS' Scientific Council, Marcel-Francis Kahn, emeritus professor in medicine at Paris Diderot University, to resign on the grounds that "the AFIS – without having consulted our opinion – made a 180° turn to a genuine pro-GMO lobby".[18] He also alleged a connection between two members, Marcel Kuntz and Louis-Marie Houdebine, and "Monsanto or its affiliates". However, Kahn was unable to produce "real evidence" to back up these accusations.[19] Meanwhile, the AFIS maintains its "total independence from any industrial group".[20]
Global warming
After the publication of the report on global warming, including giving a voice to climate change deniers such as Vincent Courtillot and Benoît Rittaud,[21][22] the association received criticism from climatologists and the Union rationaliste.[23] Sylvestre Huet, science journalist at Libération, expressed his disappointment with the "mediocre" coverage of the topic in a critique of the association.[24] AFIS has repeatedly stated[25] that such accusations are baseless and purely defamatory, coming from people who use guilt by association as their main argument against people who question their own ideological biases. François-Marie Bréon, who was president of AFIS for 5 years, is a climatologist with CEA and has been a member of IPCC.
Gérard Pascal (dietician and toxicologist, honorary research director of the INRA, member of the Académie d’Agriculture and the French Academy of Technologies).
Jacques Van Rillaer (professeur de psychologie, Belgique).
Editorial staff Science et pseudo-sciences and website
Jean-Paul Krivine (editor-in-chief).
Bruno Przetakiewicz (webmaster)
Transparency
In 2008, after the work of the Prometheus Foundation on the transparency barometer of NGOs, the AFIS wanted to participate in a process of transparency by publicising the composition of the board council, the finances and activities reports.[27]
References
^ ab"Rapport d'activités"(PDF). Website AFIS (in French). AFIS. May 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
^Jean-Pierre Thomas. "Notre histoire". Website AFIS (in French). AFIS. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
^Bernard Lahire; Philippe Cibois; Dominique Desjeux; Jean Audouze; Henri Broch; Jean-Paul Krivine; Jean-Claude Pecker; Jacques Bouveresse (6 August 2001). "Analyse de la thèse de Madame Élizabeth Teissier" (in French). Analyse de la thèse de Madame Élizabeth Teissier. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
^"When questioned, Marcel-Francis Kahn willingly confirmed that he is "against the campaign of unconditional defence of GMOs that the AFIS has conducted for the past two years", and that he opines that "there are probably ties between these two researchers and Monsanto and its affiliates". But the doctor immediately added that he was not aware of any "specific facts", and that he had "no evidence" to support his claims." "OGM : Marie-Monique Robin contre Monsanto". arretsurimages.net (in French). 25 April 2008.
